Advocates, supporters and members of the LGBTQ+ community gathered at standing-room-only capacity to encourage the Valparaiso City Council to pass a resolution recognizing June as Gay Pride Month.
Alison Quackenbush, chair of the Valparaiso Human Rights Committee, gave a presentation to the council before their vote at the Monday council meeting, and the resolution passed 6 to 1 in favor.
“A vote for this resolution does not cost any taxpayer dollars,” Quackenbush said.
“This is simply an ask for a yes vote for inclusion. City council members have a choice tonight,” she said. “They might think that a vote concerning Pride Month is classified as a social initiative and has no place in our city government, but demonstrating a welcoming environment is an indicator for what a community values.”
Among the many interested and invested residents in the audience who listened carefully to every word exchanged among the council members was Maggie Willis of Chesterton.
“I’m here with others to support this resolution, which is a long time overdue for residents of Valparaiso,” a tearful Willis said.
“I’m a 1980 graduate of Valparaiso University, and even back then, I’d hope this day would soon be in the future for Valparaiso.”
The only vote against the resolution was from Councilman Jack Pupillo, R-4th, who read a prepared statement before the vote.
“This is the only social issue resolution in my four-plus years on the city council,” Pupillo said.
“From 2020 to 2024, on a 5-2 Republican council, I don’t believe we offered a single resolution or ordinance addressing a cultural or national issue. Instead, we focused on the core competencies of local government, public safety, city services, economic development, road paving, parks and infrastructure. We considered it not appropriate to make broad pronouncements on social or cultural issues or to utilize government resources to elevate the demands of activist organizations. Are we to respond to every cultural or social issue we hear on the national news? In my view. this passage of this resolution sets a problematic precedent for the council moving forward.”
Peter Anderson, R-5th, said he found his deliberation about the resolution to be “a tough one,” prompting the murmuring and audible feedback from the audience, requiring the gavel from Mayor Jon Costas.
“I struggle bus with this one,” said Anderson, who later granted a supportive vote.
“Maybe not because of what you might think, but every one of the whereas clauses in this resolution I agree with passionately. But there’s two concepts here. There’s my posture, which is how I act and perceive this issue in my daily life. And then there’s the position we are asked to take, which is actually where I struggle the most to pass this as a resolution.
“I agree with a lot of the stuff Jack said and I struggle that city government should instruct people on what they are supposed to celebrate. I don’t know if that’s our purpose here on the council,” Anderson said.
Mayor Costas, prefacing his remarks with his position as a non-voting official in connection with the resolution, expressed his personal support for the resolution.
“We’re a city bringing different views, lifestyles and beliefs, and that’s good and OK,” Costas said.
“Let’s be good neighbors and recognize all individuals. We recognize the many contributions of the LGBTQ+ community in our city and their resilience in the struggle to advance acceptance and equality.”
Philip Potempa is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
